Crassula Plant Named &#39;Indian Summer&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Crassula  plant named ‘Indian Summer’ that is characterized by obovate shaped leaves that are yellow-green on the upper side when young and that turn grey-red toward the margins during autumn on outdoor grown plants.

Botanical classification: Crassula ovata.

Variety denomination: ‘Indian Summer’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Crassulaplant botanically known as Crassula ovata and hereinafter referred to bythe cultivar name ‘Indian Summer’.

‘Indian Summer’ was discovered as a naturally occurring branch mutationof Crassula ovata ‘Sunset’ (not patented). ‘Indian Summer’ wasdiscovered in 2008 in a population of Crassula ‘Sunset’ plants grown ina greenhouse in a cultivated area of Honselersdijk, Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘Indian Summer’ first occurredby leaf cuttings in 2010 in Honselersdijk, Netherlands. Since that time,under careful observation, the unique characteristics of the newcultivar have been uniform, stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following represent the distinguishing characteristics of the newCrassula cultivar ‘Indian Summer’. These traits in combinationdistinguish ‘Indian Summer’ as a new and distinct cultivar apart fromother existing varieties of Crassula known by the inventor.

1. Crassula ‘Indian Summer’ exhibits obovate shaped leaves.2. Crassula ‘Indian Summer’ exhibits young leaves that are yellow-greenon the upper side.3. Crassula ‘Indian Summer’ exhibits leaves that turn grey-red towardthe margins during autumn on outdoor grown plants. The leaves of indoorgrown plants do not turn grey-red toward the margins.

The closest comparison cultivars are the parent plant Crassula ‘Sunset’and Crassula ‘Minor’ (not patented). ‘Indian Summer’ is distinguishablefrom the parent plant Crassula ‘Sunset’ by the followingcharacteristics:

1. Crassula ‘Indian Summer’ exhibits leaves that smaller than the leavesof Crassula ‘Sunset’.2. Crassula ‘Indian Summer’ exhibits young leaves that are yellow-greenon the upper side. The young leaves of Crassula ‘Sunset’ are green onthe upper side.3. Crassula ‘Indian Summer’ exhibits leaves that turn grey-red towardthe margins during autumn on outdoor grown plants. The leaves ofCrassula ‘Sunset’ have margins that are lighter grey-red during autumn.

‘Indian Summer’ is distinguishable from Crassula ‘Minor’ by thefollowing characteristics:

1. Crassula ‘Indian Summer’ exhibits leaves that larger than the leavesof Crassula ‘Minor’.2. Crassula ‘Indian Summer’ exhibits young leaves that are yellow-greenon the upper side. The young leaves of Crassula ‘Minor’ are bronze incolor on the upper side.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photograph illustrates the distinguishing traits ofCrassula ‘Indian Summer’. The photograph shows an overall view of a 14month old plant. The photograph was taken using conventional techniquesand although colors may appear different from actual colors due to lightreflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographictechniques.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new Crassula cultivarnamed ‘Indian Summer’. Data was collected in Honselersdijk, Netherlandsfrom 14 month old plants grown in a glass greenhouse in 10.5 cm.diameter containers. The time of year was October and the temperaturerange was 20-25 degrees Centigrade during the day and 10-15 degreesCentigrade at night. The light level was natural light level. Nophotoperiodic treatments or growth retardants were used. Colordeterminations are in accordance with The Royal Horticultural SocietyColour Chart 2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinarydictionary significance are used. The growing requirements are similarto the species. ‘Indian Summer’ has not been tested under all possibleconditions and phenotypic differences may be observed with variations inenvironmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, however, without anyvariance in genotype.

-   Botanical classification: Crassula ovata ‘Indian Summer’.-   Annual or perennial: Perennial.-   Parentage: ‘Indian Summer’ is a naturally occurring branch mutation    of Crassula Sunset’.-   Plant type: Pot plant.-   Plant shape: Flattened spherical.-   Growth habit: Broad upright.-   Suitable container size: 10.5 cm. pots or larger.-   Plant height: 11.2 cm.-   Plant width: 16.0 cm.-   Vigor: Low.-   Low temperature tolerance: 0° Centigrade.-   High temperature tolerance: 40° Centigrade.-   Propagation: Leaf cuttings.-   Time to initiate roots (summer): 30 days at 15-20° C.-   Time to initiate roots (winter): 45 days at 10-15° C.-   Time to produce a rooted cutting (summer): 60 days at 15-20° C.-   Time to produce a rooted cutting (winter): 80 days at 10-15° C.-   Crop time: Approximately 60 weeks from rooted cutting in    Kudelstaart, Netherlands.-   Root system: Fine, fibrous.-   Root color: N155.-   Plant fragrance: None.-   Stem:    -   -   Branching.—Basal and lateral branching.        -   Number of primary branches.—Average 2.        -   Number of lateral branches per primary branch.—Average 4.        -   Lateral branch dimensions.—6.6 cm. in length and 1.0 cm. in            diameter.        -   Internode length.—1.4 cm.        -   Stem shape.—Rounded.        -   Stem texture.—Glabrous, succulent.        -   Stem pubescence.—Absent.        -   Stem aspect.—30 degrees from vertical.        -   Stem strength.—Strong.        -   Stem color (young).—147D.        -   Stem color (mature).—143B to 143C with narrow ridge at            internodes 161D.        -   Pinching.—No.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Compound or single.—Single.        -   Leaf dimensions.—4.2 cm. in length and 2.4 cm. in width.        -   Leaf thickness.—1.1 cm.        -   Leaf shape.—Obovate.        -   Leaf apex.—Broad acute.        -   Leaf base.—Acuminate.        -   Leaf margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Glabrous both surfaces, succulent.        -   Leaf luster.—Glossy both surfaces.        -   Pubescence.—Absent.        -   Venation pattern.—None visible.        -   Young leaf color (upper surface).—Between 150C and 151D,            margins toward tip 185B.        -   Young leaf color (lower surface).—Between 145B and 150B,            margins toward tip 185B.        -   Mature leaf color (upper surface).—NN137B, margins toward            tip 183C.        -   Mature leaf color (lower surface).—147B, margins toward tip            187A to 187B.        -   Autumn leaf color on outdoor grown plants (upper            surface).—137B to 137C, tinged 180C, more intense toward            margins and tip.        -   Autumn leaf color on outdoor grown plants (lower            surface).—143C, upper 30% of leaf tinged 185A, more intense            toward margins and tip.        -   Durability of foliage to stress.—High.        -   Leaf attachment.—Sessile.-   Flower: ‘Indian Summer’ has not produced flowers to date.-   Fruit and seed: Fruit or seed production has been observed to date.-   Disease and pest resistance: Disease and pest resistance has not    been observed to date.

1. A new and distinct variety of Crassula plant named ‘Indian Summer’ asdescribed and illustrated.